The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, publicly expressed his gratitude to the Norwegian people for demonstrating in the streets of Oslo in support of Venezuela and in rejection of imperialist interference:
“I want to thank the thousands of Norwegians who took to the streets to support Venezuela in its desire for peace and development. They demonstrated their support by telling the world: No to war for oil, no to bloodshed for oil,” as declared the Venezuelan President.
The head of state indicated that the self-organized citizen mobilization served to support Venezuela and repudiate the military threats in the Caribbean, attributed to the United States. Among the slogans displayed on the banners, stood out a resounding «No to the bloody Nobel Prize».
The protest focused on rejecting the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the ultra-rightwing agent María Corina Machado, whom the demonstrators and solidarity organizations identify as a key ally of the United States’ pressure strategy against Venezuela. Critics denounce a clear contradiction with the spirit of the award.
A spokesperson for the international solidarity organizations present stated: “María Corina Machado does not represent peace. She represents military aggression, imperialism, and interventionism. This prize is a sham in the context of the expansion of wars and Western military operations.” This stance has generated a widespread debate within Norway itself.
The controversy has transcended the social sphere and has caused tensions within the Norwegian government, led by the Social Democrats. The list of official guests at the ceremony, mostly from right-wing parties, has exposed an internal clash between traditional Norwegian peace diplomacy and a growing alignment with Washington’s geopolitical positions.
Protesting groups maintain that the award recipient does not meet the criteria of Alfred Nobel’s original will, which stipulates that the prize should recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to fraternity among nations, the reduction of armies, and the promotion of peace processes.
The demonstration in Oslo summarizes the indignation that has spread to solidarity movements, pacifist organizations, and social sectors in various countries. These groups see the awarding of the prize as an endorsement of figures who have promoted sanctions, economic blockades, calls for military intervention, and political violence in Venezuela.